I’m hoping to visit the marsh on 12/02/19 with a small group of retirees. We haven’t been since windmill contractors vehicles closed or damaged the various tracks – please, are they restored to 2016 conditions or still in a terrible state? Did Peel Holdings do their duty?
David Poole (Manchester), 07/02/19

I hate to report this but was driving along the M56 today at around 7am south towards chester and opposite the wind farm in the hard shoulder saw what I think was the body of a Marsh Harrier, I don’t know who to contact as its out of hours 1800 so thought i’d put it on here

Hi Bill, at the marsh today didn’t see the ggs, but did see a dark transit van full of leylandii cuttings looking like he was after a place to dump them , GL55 GGU, did see a flock of avocet on no 6 tho , hope your well , Guy .

Hi, not sure who to direct this to but hopefully someone in the know will answer.
I came across this blog purely by chance as other than watching the birds and other wildlife in my own garden my interests lie elsewhere. I must confess to not being an ornithologist but a ‘concrete spotter’ so all you ornithologists (twitchers) can probably empathise with me on the excitement I felt on seeing a photo of a rare and intact Allan Williams Turret on this blog and the reference to another close by.
As a paid up member of the Pillbox Study Group (PSG) and for my own interest, I travel the country photographing and recording the locations and condition of WW2 defence structures. The Allan Williams Turret, intact and in its original deployment is indeed a rare beast as there are only a slack handful surviving the post war scrap/salvage drive.
If at all possible and if anyone knows who I need to contact in order gain access to the land and structures could you please drop me a line. I read that offering help to the local farmer/land owner (whoever he is?) or joining in on a bird count (who would I need to contact?) could secure me a place on the boat over. I am quite happy to ‘pay the price’ of a chance to visit the turret(s) and at any time of the year – just need 24 hours notice as I live in the east of England.
So if anyone can help please let me know.
Cheers
Jan

Please could you advise me about access to the marsh? On my last visit from Manchester I crossed the M56 via Marsh Lane & turned left (Moorditch Lane I think) to go to No 6 tank only to find the way blocked by a JCB & windmill work. Is the former inclined path/driveway to access & view the tank from the north side restored? Is it still possible to to reach the path north of the redwall reed bed along the river bank to the Weaver Bend from Marsh Lane as formerly? Is there any other way onto the marsh to view no 6 tank?
Thanks for the worthwhile blog, I hate the windmills!
David

I think there’s a black tern sp. on the weaver bend. I have no camera, but managed some iPhone/bins photos. Have tweeted them to you.
It’s been catching insects for the last half hour from the surface of the water, doesn’t seem to be the little gull from previous blog posts.
Fingers crossed
Mike

I saw two black swans take off today on the Weaver not far from the entrance to the Manchester ship canal. Have also seen Buzzards nesting in the railway bridge take the duckings 😦 and lots of lapwings on the Weaver bend.

A quick hello to Bill Morton Long time no see from Pete Carty who was at Froddham today enjoying some very nice birding. Met some friendly locals who mentioned your blog.
I am now working for national trust on the long Mynd and Wenlock edge in Shropshire

I have just found this blog through another link and has brought back treasured memories from my first birding days from 1970-1976. I saw some of my very first common species here like Grey Heron and Water Rail and spent many hours on a Sunday afternoons sheltering from the rain in Marsh Farm barns watching Golden Plover or crouched on the Weaver Bend trying to turn Little Stints and Ruff into something else! I saw my first Great Grey Shrike near no. 6 tank in March 1974 and thought birding couldn’t get any better than that at the time. I still regard Frodsham as pivotal in my birding progression and it’s wonderful to see it going strong and improved: alas I have only been back there twice in almost 40 years, but I can still remember the smell of the place!
My best wishes and good birding to you all

While watching my son rowing today my wife and I walked up the canal from the Runcorn rowing club about 2 miles up river there is a lake where we saw 2 swans and a lone egret together with coot moorhen and buzzards overhead many small birds on the way chafincg greenfinch robin blackbird wren and a blue flash near the bank (wishing it was a kingfisher) and of course the ducks male and female mallards. And of course rabbits . What a wonderful day we didn’t know that walk existed.

Hello, firstly many thanks for your wonderful blog, which I’ve read avidly over the last few years. I’d never been out there before… but I have now. An amazing place, particularly at nightfall.

Your standard of photography is amazing, I love how you (collectively) love the contrast between wilderness and industry… nobody does it better.

This is the first time I’ve ever contacted you, but I nearly did a few Sundays ago. The same Sunday that you first recorded a cattle egret, I saw one, surely the same bird, as I hank you so much, be happy, and be well. xx

First time I have seen this site – amazing. More so for me because my greatgrandfather was
born in Frodsham Lordship. Its lovely to see birds I’ve never seen on what I’ve thought as a
“blot on the landscape” (Stanlow refinery). My greatgrandmother was born in Weston so lovely to see the church spire in these wonderful bird pictures.